OM
Sultanate of Oman
Oman
Summary
Official Name
Sultanate of Oman
International Conventions
CPPDCE (2007), CSICH (2005), UNCRPD (2009), UNDRIP (2007)
Population
4,665,000
Principal Languages
Standard Arabic
Literacy Rate
96% (2018 UNESCO)
General References
Holes 1988, Holes 1990, Johnstone 1967
Language Counts
The number of established languages listed for Oman is 17. All are living languages. Of these, 10 are indigenous and 7 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 2 are institutional, 3 are developing, 5 are vigorous, 5 are in trouble, and 2 are dying. Also listed are 18 unestablished languages.
Languages
- Arabic, Baharna Spoken abv
- Adh Dhahirah and Al Batinah South governorates. Users: 17,900 in Oman (2020). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
- Arabic, Dhofari Spoken adf
- Dhofar governorate: Salala and nearby coastal regions. Users: 125,000 (2020). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Dhofari, Zofari Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
- Arabic, Egyptian Spoken arz
- Users: 75,200 in Oman (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
- Arabic, Gulf Spoken afb
- Widespread. Users: 788,000 in Oman (2020). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Bedawi, Gulf Arabic, Omani Bedawi Arabic Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
- Arabic, Omani Spoken acx
- Widespread, mainly in Hajar mountain highlands and a few coastal regions. Users: 2,140,000 in Oman (2020). Total users in all countries: 2,872,200. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Omani Hadari Arabic Autonym: عماني (ʿumāni) Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
- Arabic, Shihhi Spoken ssh
- Musandam governorate. Users: 17,900 in Oman (2020). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
- Arabic, South Levantine Spoken ajp
- Users: 17,900 in Oman (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
- Arabic, Standard arb
- Widespread. Users: 2,140,000 in Oman (2015 SIL), all users. Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Basic Law, Article 3). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
- Arabic, Sudanese Spoken apd
- Users: 19,700 in Oman (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
- Arabic, Ta’izzi-Adeni Spoken acq
- Users: 16,300 in Oman (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
- Balochi, Southern bcc
- Muscat governorate, and dispersed on Gulf of Oman coast. Users: 233,000 in Oman (2020). Ethnic population: 312,000 (1993). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Baloci, Baluchi, Baluci Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Balochi
- Bathari bhm
- Dhofar governorate: Al Jazeer to Shweymia coastal towns. Users: 200 in Oman (2011). Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Batahari, Bathara Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South, South Arabian
- Bengali ben
- Users: 200,000 in Oman (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Eastern, Bengali-Assamese
- English eng
- Widespread. Users: 17,300 in Oman (2020 Joshua Project). Status: 3 (Wider communication). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
- Gujarati guj
- Users: 6,430 in Oman (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Gujarati
- Harsusi hss
- Al Wusta and Dhofar governorates: Jiddat al-Harasis. Users: 600 (2011). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Harsi ’Aforit, Hersyet, South Arabian Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South, South Arabian
- Hindi hin
- Users: 15,600 in Oman (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Western Hindi, Hindustani
- Hobyót hoh
- Dhofar governorate: near Yemen border. Users: 100 in Oman (1998 H. Mutzafi). Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Hewbyót, Hobi, Kalam Rifi Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South, South Arabian
- Kumzari zum
- Musandam peninsula north. Users: 5,360 in Oman (2020). Total users in all countries: 6,060 (as L1: 6,030; as L2: 30). Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Kumzai Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Luri
- Luwati luv
- Mostly Muscat and coastal towns of Barka, Khabura, Musana, and Saham. Users: 8,940 (2020). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Hyderabadi, Khoja, Khojki, Lawatiya Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Northwestern, Sindhi
- Malayalam mal
- Users: 223,000 in Oman (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Dravidian, Southern, Tamil-Kannada, Tamil-Kodagu, Tamil-Malayalam, Malayalam
- Mehri gdq
- Al Wusta and Dhofar governorates: south near Yemen border. Users: 89,400 in Oman (2020). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Mahri Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South, South Arabian
- Persian, Iranian pes
- Muscat governorate: Muttrah and Ruwi areas near Muscat city; possibly other coastal cities. Users: 67,900 in Oman (2020). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Persian, Western Farsi Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian
- Punjabi, Eastern pan
- Users: 39,300 in Oman (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Panjabi
- Shehri shv
- Dhofar governorate: coastal mountains and plains; Khuriya Muriya islands in Arabian Sea near Fararah. Users: 44,700 in Oman (2020). Total users in all countries: 84,900. Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Ehkili, Geblet, Jibali, Jibbali, Qarawi, Sehri, Shahari, Sheret, South Arabian Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South, South Arabian
- Sindhi snd
- Users: 26,800 in Oman (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Northwestern, Sindhi
- Sinhala sin
- Users: 35,700 in Oman (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Southern, Sinhalese-Maldivian
- Swahili swh
- Ash Sharqiyah South and Muscat governorates; urban centers Muscat and Sur. Users: 51,800 in Oman (2020). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Kiswahili Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, G, Swahili (G.42)
- Tagalog tgl
- Users: 94,700 in Oman (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Greater Central Philippine, Central Philippine, Tagalog
- Tamil tam
- Users: 12,900 in Oman (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Dravidian, Southern, Tamil-Kannada, Tamil-Kodagu, Tamil-Malayalam, Tamil
- Urdu urd
- Users: 73,300 in Oman (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Western Hindi, Hindustani
Languages by Status
Arabic, Standard
[arb] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Basic Law, Article 3). 2,140,000 in Oman (2015 SIL), all users.
Arabic, Gulf Spoken
[afb] 5* (Dispersed). 788,000 in Oman (2020).
Persian, Iranian
[pes] 5* (Dispersed). 67,900 in Oman (2020).
Swahili
[swh] 5* (Dispersed). 51,800 in Oman (2020).
Arabic, Baharna Spoken
[abv] 6a* (Vigorous). 17,900 in Oman (2020).
Arabic, Omani Spoken
[acx] 6a* (Vigorous). 2,140,000 in Oman (2020). Total users in all countries: 2,872,200.
Arabic, Dhofari Spoken
[adf] 6a* (Vigorous). 125,000 (2020).
Luwati
[luv] 6a* (Vigorous). 8,940 (2020).
Arabic, Shihhi Spoken
[ssh] 6a* (Vigorous). 17,900 in Oman (2020).
Balochi, Southern
[bcc] 6b* (Threatened). 233,000 in Oman (2020). Ethnic population: 312,000 (1993).
Mehri
[gdq] 6b* (Threatened). 89,400 in Oman (2020).
Shehri
[shv] 6b* (Threatened). 44,700 in Oman (2020). Total users in all countries: 84,900.
Harsusi
[hss] 7 (Shifting). 600 (2011).
Language Vitality Profile

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Language Status Profile

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